"Ship Week" Highlights Ten Years Of Service To Illinois Seniors

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Gov. Jim Edgar has proclaimed the week of June 1-5, 1998, as Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) Week in Illinois. SHIP is a free insurance counseling program that assists Illinois citizens with their Medicare, Medicare supplement and health care insurance concerns. The program is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Insurance through a statewide volunteer network.

"SHIP Week has special significance this year because 1998 marks the ten year anniversary of our program," noted Acting Director of Insurance Arnold Dutcher. "Thanks to the continued dedication of over 800 volunteers, Illinois has one of the most successful senior health insurance counseling program in the nation. Over the past decade, SHIP volunteers have contributed nearly 96,000 hours to help over 57,000 clients around the state.

"SHIP Week in Illinois publicly recognizes the commitment and hard work of our volunteer counselors and makes their services more visible to Medicare beneficiaries who need help with their insurance and don't know where to turn," Dutcher said.

SHIP offices are located in nearly every county in Illinois. Many local offices have planned SHIP Week activities ranging from free health care screenings and expanded counseling hours to information booths in malls and grocery stores and educational presentations on Medicare and health insurance.

SHIP also provides a toll-free line for Medicare beneficiaries. For further information on SHIP or to access the free counseling services, call 1-800-548-9034.